Press

The New York Times

The Declaration of Independence captured American ideals with words on paper. On Friday evening the artist Faith Ringgold will show children how to do the same with images on cloth.

“We’re going to make an American Dream Quilt,” said Ms. Ringgold, whose own vibrant story quilts are in museum collections, including the Metropolitan’s and the Modern’s. At the Children’s Museum of Manhattan she will lead visitors in honoring the Fourth of July by piecing together their own tales of liberation and renewal. “What images come to mind when they think of freedom in the United States?” asked Ms. Ringgold, best known to young readers for her quilt-theme picture book “Tar Beach.” (Above, Ms. Ringgold in front of the quilt “Tar Beach 2.”) “What other images can they cut out that bring to mind life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?”

Each family will decorate a 9-by-9-inch square, creating fabric figures and designs that the children will glue on. (A holiday singalong will be part of the fun.) While some may make squares to take home (they will also receive pamphlets on quilting), most will contribute their pieces to the group project. The quilt, consisting of selected squares — predominantly red, white and blue, like the one above — will later be sewn together and displayed in the museum.

But the patriotic spirit doesn’t end there. On Friday and Saturday the museum will hold other workshops (collages, painting, more quilts), and Ms. Ringgold’s will inaugurate Raising Citizens, a yearlong initiative. Revolving around significant holidays, Raising Citizens will encourage civic participation and introduce values like service, sacrifice and, at this workshop, vision.

By interesting young people in the United States’ heritage, “our aim is to celebrate how far we’ve gotten but also to understand how far we have to go,” said Andrew S. Ackerman, the museum’s executive director.

Even without the holiday symbolism, quilting is still an act of citizenship, Ms. Ringgold observed. “It helps to tell stories,” she said. “It helps to keep people connected with their past and with their struggles and triumphs.” And as children of different cultures gather, they too will be a joyful patchwork of American life. (Friday from 5 to 7:30 p.m., 212 West 83rd Street, 212-721-1223, cmom.org; free. Other workshops free with museum admission: $10; $7 for 65+; free for members.)

By LAUREL GRAEBER